Autism and Anxiety on Socialization – The Asperger Syndrome

Autism and anxiety on socialization are characteristics of Asperger syndrome. Regarded as a kind of autism, it was named after a Viennese pediatrician, Hans Asperger, who first described the disorder in 1944.

The lives of people with Asperger syndrome are filled with anxious thoughts and stress. For a great number, their social world seems to be confusing and capable of provoking all sorts of anxieties.

Diagnostic Factors

A person with Asperger syndrome, aside from displaying autism and anxiety on socialization, will also display the following:

1. Communicating in a one sided manner
2. Fixed interest patterns that focus on memorizing facts by rote (these facts, at times, may be about unusual subjects)
3. No delay in development (i.e., autistic behavior without mental retardation)

A person with Asperger syndrome will often be anxious then strangers are present and show an attachment towards certain members of the family.

The person will have a deep fear of meeting other people, afraid that these people may criticize him or her. A panic attack may even occur. This is the reason why doctors often diagnose anxiety disorders along with Asperger syndrome.

While autism and anxiety on socialization are present in all cases of the disorder, the following conditions are NOT common to all people with Asperger syndrome:

1. Hurting oneself
2. Mood swings over a long period
3. Presence of a phobia (e.g., agoraphobia)
4. Skill deterioration
5. Abnormalities in perception
6. Difficulties or delay in speech
7. Head injuries
8. Seizures/fever

Misconceptions

Just a few years back, research communities around the world thought that children with Asperger syndrome, did not “grow up.” In fact, to this day, most of the research on Asperger still has to do with children.

But teenagers and adults with Asperger syndrome are nonetheless faced with challenges that are as critical as those they face during their formative years.

So it often happens that autism and anxiety on socialization deteriorate into severe anxiety coupled with depression. This means that the person with Asperger could be locked into lifelong social failure.

Approaches

The methods used by doctors to deal with Asperger syndrome include:

1. Psycho-educational management.
2. Exposing the individual to various social setups.
3. Building of social skills.
4. Cognitive restructuring.

These methods have been shown to lead to improvements in some aspects of social anxiety disorder. But guidance and intervention should not stop when they leave school.

It is important that teenagers and adults with Asperger syndrome be guided on how they can build friendships. They must also be taught what to do when difficulties arise.

This includes mood swings or anxiety attacks that can be detrimental not only to their quality of life but also to their capability to benefit from interventions or treatments addressed at their social deficiencies.